The Biden administration’s attempt to reschedule cannabis was famously scrapped when Trump returned to office, but as the walls close in on his foreign policy agenda, the President has performed a complete 180-degree turn. By directing Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to move marijuana from Schedule I (the same category as heroin) to Schedule III, Trump ends the war on weed to hide his failure in the war on Iran, offering a massive win to a $47 billion industry to quiet growing domestic unrest.
The Mechanics of the Shift
The Department of Justice is moving with unprecedented speed to align federal policy with the reality in 48 U.S. states. State-regulated medical marijuana will now be grouped with drugs like ketamine and testosterone, which have a “low to moderate potential for abuse.”
This shift allows cannabis companies to finally ease tax burdens and secure traditional banking and funding, which had been blocked by federal “Schedule I” status. Shares in companies like Canopy Growth and Tilray jumped nearly 13% as the news broke, providing a rare “green” day in an otherwise bleeding economy.
Why the Timing is Suspect
The reason Trump Ends the war on weed becomes clear when looking at the calendar. The two-week ceasefire in the Middle East is crumbling, and the U.S. military blockade of Iranian ports has failed to force a surrender.
With only 32% of Americans supporting his handling of the Iran conflict, the President desperately needs a “win” that appeals to younger voters and libertarians. As long as the Strait of Hormuz remains a chokepoint, high fuel costs will continue to plague his presidency. Reclassifying marijuana provides a massive, high-profile headline to dominate the news cycle and bury reports of naval skirmishes.
Internal GOP Friction
Not everyone in the President’s party is on board with the idea that Trump Ends the War on Weed to Hide His Failure in the War on Iran. A vocal critic, Cotton warned that this is a “step in the wrong direction,” citing concerns over psychosis and traffic safety. Many Republicans who supported the war on Iran are now finding themselves at odds with a President who is willing to sacrifice “traditional values” on drug policy to salvage his political standing.
By launching evidence-gathering proceedings for June 29, the administration ensures that the “cannabis conversation” will persist throughout the summer, potentially shielding the White House from the fallout of a prolonged and unsuccessful war.
Do you believe the reclassification of marijuana is a long-overdue victory for science and the economy, or is it simply a case where Trump ends the war on weed to hide his failure in the war on Iran and avoid accountability for the crisis in the Gulf?
